This is a collection of short stories that are strung together. Kagan is an amazing author and has all these neat little touches. Many years later, thThis is a collection of short stories that are strung together. Kagan is an amazing author and has all these neat little touches. Many years later, the book hardly feels dated at all and she even gets email in there although she just calls it mail. I reread it upon hearing of her death and it made me quite sad to realize what a treasure we lost....more

I am a huge fan of Lee and Miller. This book is darker than most of the Liaden novels, although some of the Liaden books do have their moments. It alsI am a huge fan of Lee and Miller. This book is darker than most of the Liaden novels, although some of the Liaden books do have their moments. It also ends on a big cliffhanger:( Or several big cliffhangers.

Rebecca DeBeuvelly (or however you spell her name) has a maimed arm and a spoiled reputation (although her virtue was never soiled). She's about to be married to some old man who is harsh and lives up in the cold north (and seems to care only for money and appearances), but she's whisked out from underneath his nose by a Fey. However, it's unclear whether or not this is actually a better fate for her. And we certainly don't know by the end of the book.

I liked the book well enough, but wasn't captivated in the same way I am by the Liaden books....more

This was a fun, fast, flippy read. Good sex, good romance, terrible plot. Characterization left something to be desired, but it was quite cute. I don'This was a fun, fast, flippy read. Good sex, good romance, terrible plot. Characterization left something to be desired, but it was quite cute. I don't think I'll be looking for another one of her books soon....more

This book is a cute conglomeration of several princess fairy tales. I thought Lickiss did a good job up until the very end. It was an easy fluffy readThis book is a cute conglomeration of several princess fairy tales. I thought Lickiss did a good job up until the very end. It was an easy fluffy read....more

This is a wonderful book. It's about a real magician, Charles Carter and it's just wonderfully written. Gold plots very well and the writing is fine.This is a wonderful book. It's about a real magician, Charles Carter and it's just wonderfully written. Gold plots very well and the writing is fine. It wasn't compelling exactly but it was a wonderful book to be read over a month. It was a savoring kind of book. Very romantic on all levels and just enough hints aobut conspiracy to make it a bit creepy but not unbelievable....more

This book is about food and how to recognize it from foodlike things that are sold in the grocery store. He says that getting your food outside the suThis book is about food and how to recognize it from foodlike things that are sold in the grocery store. He says that getting your food outside the supermarket (from places like CSA's and farmer's markets, etc) and going home and cooking your food are subversive acts. Let the revolution begin, I say!...more

Asaro is a very talented author and I've enjoyed all her Skolian Empire books, but this book really stands above the rest. She's definitely at the topAsaro is a very talented author and I've enjoyed all her Skolian Empire books, but this book really stands above the rest. She's definitely at the top of her form here. I was holding my breath and biting my fingernails the whole time.

She spends time developing Jaibrol's character, as well as Kelric's, and their relationships with others, but she also takes the plot quite far in this book. Don't start with this book; definitely look forward to it. Start with Primary Inversion, or perhaps one of the other books....more

Asaro is a master. Her plotting is excellent; I was tense and holding my breath the entire time. Her characters are so real and she is able to weave pAsaro is a master. Her plotting is excellent; I was tense and holding my breath the entire time. Her characters are so real and she is able to weave planetary politics and interpersonal relationships throughout the tale so tightly.

One thing that was interesting about this book is that it was a re-read and there were things in it that I hadn't remembered from other books. She was clearly still building the universe in this book. It's not a bad thing, just a side-effect of a first novel....more

This is a graphic novel with no words. I found myself longing for words and a little lost. It's supposed to be about the immigrant experience, althougThis is a graphic novel with no words. I found myself longing for words and a little lost. It's supposed to be about the immigrant experience, although there are clearly some darker experiences that caused the people to flee their homelands. I'm just not visually oriented enough to appreciate a book that has no words. ...more

I listened to an audio version of this book and it's probably what made it possible to finish it. The first half of the book is sort of ok, but it takI listened to an audio version of this book and it's probably what made it possible to finish it. The first half of the book is sort of ok, but it takes a deep nosedive after that. If she'd changed the ages of the characters downward by 8 years or so, it would have been much more reasonable, but people who are 21 and 24 don't act the way the people in this book did. And the writing is truly atrocious. It's so purple at times. Ugh. But the story itself is sort of sweet and melancholy and even just downright sad at times. If you are looking for good Brashares, stick with The Pants books. Even book 4 of the Pants books was better than this....more

This book has some really good information, but it is kind of slow going. I was especially interested in the last third or so of the book where he actThis book has some really good information, but it is kind of slow going. I was especially interested in the last third or so of the book where he actually tells you how to improve rather than explaining what it is you're going to be aiming for. I'd consider giving it five stars, but the writing is not great:( I'd think about three stars, but I really think the information is important and most people need information like this....more

I recently saw the movie and fell in love with the movie, so I decided to read the book. The movie is not completely faithful adaptation, but it doesI recently saw the movie and fell in love with the movie, so I decided to read the book. The movie is not completely faithful adaptation, but it does keep true to the spirit (more or less). There is one bit that makes the book deeper than the movie, which I won't reveal here. I was glad to have seen the movie first in the case because this particular element was a really nice surprise and I feel the experience was good both ways (viewing and reading)....more

This is the followup to Airborn and wow was it good. I really think that Oppel is a fantastic writer. His characters are very believable, his plots arThis is the followup to Airborn and wow was it good. I really think that Oppel is a fantastic writer. His characters are very believable, his plots are so tightly knit, and his prose is good. I think everyone would like his books; there's something for everyone.

One thing I especially enjoyed about this book was how much more active/able Kate was. Yay for heroines:) And of course, the budding romance between Kate and Matt is enough to melt anyone's heart....more

This was a re-read and I was even more impressed the second time around. Lee and Miller are masters of the craft. They weave a tight story and build vThis was a re-read and I was even more impressed the second time around. Lee and Miller are masters of the craft. They weave a tight story and build vivid characters. This book is probably the hardest to read of theirs, but well well worth it....more

These books get better and better. Bujold raises more questions than she answers. I'm hungry for the next book already. What will the effect be on FawThese books get better and better. Bujold raises more questions than she answers. I'm hungry for the next book already. What will the effect be on Fawn of her marriage to Dag? What will Dag become? Will Dag make a new camp or be outcast?

Oh, and her writing is still as fine as ever. I really enjoyed this book. Pacing, characterization, plot; it's all there....more

Eugenides writes an epic story and Cal/i is the lynchpin. Eugenides has exquisite prose and often wonderful insights, but I felt a little gipped at thEugenides writes an epic story and Cal/i is the lynchpin. Eugenides has exquisite prose and often wonderful insights, but I felt a little gipped at the ending of the book. The narrator is 41 and looking back on his life, but the story basically ends when Cali is 15. What about the intervening years? What about the connections? What did Cal learn in that time?

I would have given it five stars if the plot had been more satisfying at the end.

That aside, it was quite enjoyable. Eugenides has an amazing attention to detail at times that really draws the reader in. And the relationships he portrays are fascinating. I really thought the grandmother was the star of the story even though she wasn't the primary focus.

I was also quite glad that the story didn't become maudlin.

I listened to the audio version and found myself wanting to listen more and more the further I got into the book. Well done, I say....more

Dan Savage is quite funny and reveals much about himself, yet he always keeps just on this side of propriety. I think it's what makes his writing so iDan Savage is quite funny and reveals much about himself, yet he always keeps just on this side of propriety. I think it's what makes his writing so interesting.

We follow his journey with his partner in their quest to decide whether or not to get married in this book. So much of this book is just a portrayal of a couple in a long-term committed relationship. I was surprised to see so much of my relationship with my husband in his book: we have a non-driving partner (although not as non-driving as Dan Savage), a stay at home parent, and a variety of other roles that get divvied up along the way. I could really relate to them.

This book started out kind of slow for me, but definitely redeemed itself in the end. It's about a society where men are rare and women are mean, aggrThis book started out kind of slow for me, but definitely redeemed itself in the end. It's about a society where men are rare and women are mean, aggressive and dominant. Sisters share one or two husbands. I found it a weird society. And it was never explained why this was the case; it was just assumed that we knew. It would have pleased my curiosity to have known the answer to that question.

I did enjoy the story and the characterization, although the bad people were so bad, it was kind of laughable. I wouldn't say there was a lot of complexity of character in this book, although the main players had more depth than auxillary ones.

This is a fun retelling of the Cinderella story and Ella really gets some power in the end. My 6 year old liked the story, although the part with theThis is a fun retelling of the Cinderella story and Ella really gets some power in the end. My 6 year old liked the story, although the part with the ogres was scary to her....more

This was a great book to listen to. I have only read the first book in the series, but even that wasn't necessary. It's a story with some heavy themesThis was a great book to listen to. I have only read the first book in the series, but even that wasn't necessary. It's a story with some heavy themes, but very easy to listen to and quite fun at times.

It's really fun to have a book with quilting in it while I'm working on a quilt too:)...more

Lovely book. An interesting read about three cultures coming together. I especially liked the differing viewpoints and how things were interpreted difLovely book. An interesting read about three cultures coming together. I especially liked the differing viewpoints and how things were interpreted differently based on the perspective....more

I had actually been reading this for a long time and finally finished it. I think Paulsen is an amazing writer; this isn't up to some of his other booI had actually been reading this for a long time and finally finished it. I think Paulsen is an amazing writer; this isn't up to some of his other books I've read. But the stuff he writes about with the Foxman is quite touching, in ways that he doesn't get to in some of his other books.

It's a book about growing up and figuring out what makes adults different from kids. And it's a book about winter and being out in the cold....more

I listened to this book and was quite charmed. It was fun and fairly ridiculous at points. Mia is pretty clueless. My 6 year old enjoyed the story quiI listened to this book and was quite charmed. It was fun and fairly ridiculous at points. Mia is pretty clueless. My 6 year old enjoyed the story quite a big too. We liked listening to it after having seen the movie. I don't know that I will listen to any more of the books, but they might be fun to listen to while sewing....more

This was a cute book. It was much more engaging than I had expected. Artemis is 12 and he's the latest in a long line of criminal masterminds. His famThis was a cute book. It was much more engaging than I had expected. Artemis is 12 and he's the latest in a long line of criminal masterminds. His family has basically lost their fortune and he has a plan to get money from the fairies.

There is a lot of "cute" in this book, but the characters are not 2 dimensional and the end is quite good. I will look for more Fowl books....more

This was a very interesting book. Ariely is a behavior economist and he talks about many different studies in this book. I think there are about 10 chThis was a very interesting book. Ariely is a behavior economist and he talks about many different studies in this book. I think there are about 10 chapters. He revised a bunch of academic papers he did so that normal people could read them and they sure do give one food for thought. It's an easy read too:)...more

This book follows a "changeling" and her discovery of self. But it's more than that too as the author describes many different relationships Saaski haThis book follows a "changeling" and her discovery of self. But it's more than that too as the author describes many different relationships Saaski has. It was interesting to me how complicated many of the relationships really were and also how the Changeling comes of age. There is a reason this got a Newberry award (I can't remember if it was an honor or a medal). ...more

This is a really cute book. It feels sort of quaint, but I love it all the more for giving us a feeling of a bygone era. I also appreciate how the sibThis is a really cute book. It feels sort of quaint, but I love it all the more for giving us a feeling of a bygone era. I also appreciate how the siblings interact and really value each other....more

I loved Nathaniel Parker's reading of this book. I found the story pretty compelling and Coifer really has a knack for pulling punches in his plot linI loved Nathaniel Parker's reading of this book. I found the story pretty compelling and Coifer really has a knack for pulling punches in his plot lines. It was quiet an entertaining story....more

I had fun listening to this, Nathaniel Parker is a wonderful narrator, but the plot was a little lacking. Still a fun read and I'm looking forward toI had fun listening to this, Nathaniel Parker is a wonderful narrator, but the plot was a little lacking. Still a fun read and I'm looking forward to the next one, but it would be nice to see Artemis fail at something. I am hoping to see more of Juliet in the next book.

In this book Artemis goes up against someone who is very smart and evil too. Artemis has invented some cube that can do anything and it's based on fairy technology. He forgot to take out stuff having to do with the LEP though and the next thing he knows, he's got a dead bodyguard and his only hope is Haven who is going to be quite annoyed with him....more